50-a Motion to Intervene

At a Glance

Date Filed: 

July 29, 2020

Current Status 

Police unions lost their appeal on February 16, 2021. 

Co-Counsel 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Client(s) 

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR)

Case Description 

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, is filing a motion  to intervene in a lawsuit brought by five New York City police unions, as well as corrections and firefighter unions, that seeks to block the city government from publishing officer misconduct and discipline information and roll back the repeal of Civil Rights Law § 50-a.

The unions sued the City in July 2020, after the New York State legislature repealed 50-a, which had shielded the records from the public, and the de Blasio administration announced plans to release a searchable NYPD misconduct database.

Case Timeline

February 16, 2021
Second Circuit affirms district court decision
February 16, 2021
Second Circuit affirms district court decision
The court affirmed the lower court's decision and rejected all of the police unions' arguments.
November 6, 2020
Amicus briefs filed with Second Circuit in support of 50-a repeal
November 6, 2020
Amicus briefs filed with Second Circuit in support of 50-a repeal
Amicus briefs from Justice Committee, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, NAACP and many others filed with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
October 29, 2020
CPR files principal and response brief with Court of Appeals
October 29, 2020
CPR files principal and response brief with Court of Appeals
September 17, 2020
Court of Appeals grants temporary stay for unions
September 17, 2020
Court of Appeals grants temporary stay for unions
September 11, 2020
CPR files motion to dismiss unions' lawsuit
September 11, 2020
CPR files motion to dismiss unions' lawsuit
September 4, 2020
CPR response to unions' motion for stay pending appeal
September 4, 2020
CPR response to unions' motion for stay pending appeal
September 4, 2020
City moves to dismiss lawsuit
September 4, 2020
City moves to dismiss lawsuit
August 25, 2020
Judge grants CPR motion to intervene
August 25, 2020
Judge grants CPR motion to intervene
Court allows CPR to intervene in the litigation.
August 14, 2020
City files motion opposing preliminary injunction
August 14, 2020
City files motion opposing preliminary injunction
August 14, 2020
CPR files motion in opposition to plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction
August 14, 2020
Police unions file motion in support of preliminary injunction
August 14, 2020
Police unions file motion in support of preliminary injunction
Police unions file motion to stop release of records.